Car-coupling



(No Model.)

E. LATHAM, Deod..

J. F. LATHAM, Administmtor.

GAR GOUPLING.

Patented Dec. 11, 1894.

` l W *Y lllllllllumnuum HUI" lllllllmllllllllllllllll UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

JONATHAN F. LATHAM, or PAINT ROCK, ALABAMA, (ADMINISTRATOR OF EPHRAIMLATHAM, DEcEA'sEn) yAssIcNOR To LIONEL D. SAXTON, OE

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.l y

.CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,697, elatedDecember 11, 1894.

Application filed January 23,1894. Serial No. 497,758. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that EPHRAIM LATHAM, deceased, formerly residing in the cityof Washin gton, District of Columbia, did invent a new and usefulImprovement in Car-Couplings, which improvement is fully set forth inthe following specification and accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improvement xo in a car coupling which isformed of adrawhead, a knuckle, a slide for locking said knuckle, apivotal lever for withdrawing said slide and a spring for returningoradvancing the same, said lever having its axial-end mounted outside ofthe draw head, passing freely through said slide and having its free endlikewise outside of the draw head, whereby both ends of the lever areaccessible for the insertion and removal of the axial pin and zo theconnection and disconnection of the operating chain of said lever andthe latter may be grasped atits free end to close the locking slideshould the spring be weak or broken for temporarily eecting thecoupling, as will be hereinafter set fort Figure l represents alongitudinal horizontal section of a car coupling embodying theinvention. Fig. 2 represents aY longitudinal vertical section on lineaz, Fig. 1. Fig. 3

, 3o represents a front end view thereof. Fig. 4

represents a transverse section Aonline y, ry', Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

3 5 Referring to the drawings: A designates a hollow draw-head,on theforward end of which is an arm B, on which is mounted the knuckle or jawC, whose heel D is adapted to engage with the side ofthe locking slideE, which 4o latter is freely fitted within the draw-head.

F designates a spring which bears against the inner end of the slide E,and against the block G, the latter being seated against the shoulders Hformed by the junction ot the cylindrical and angular portion J and K ofthe draw-bar, the tendency of said spring being to force the slide inthe direction toward the heel D, and into engagement with the same,thereby locking the knuckle, it being evident that when the oppositecoupler ad- 5o vances, the operation is such that the two knucklesengage and said heel interlocks with the head of the slide E, wherebythe knuckle is controlled and the coupling of the car is eected in anautomatic and reliable 5 5 manner. In the slide is a slot L, whichfreely receives the lever M, one end of which is pivotally connectedwith the ear N on the wall of the draw-head,and the otherend is free tobe grasped or operated by the chain .P to 6o which a suitable lever maybe attached if so desired, the opposite sides of said wall being slottedas atQ Q', for the play of said lever M, it being noticed that when itis desired to uncou ple the cars, the leverM is drawn back, wherebymotion is imparted to the locking slide in the directionfrom the heel D,so as to clear the latter, whereby the heel is released aud the knuckleis uncontrolled by Q, Q outside of the draw head they are readilyaccessible for connection with and disconnection from the draw head Aand the chain P and the free end of the same may be grasped foradvancing the slide should the spring be weak or broken and effectingthe coupling for temporary purposes.

Having thus described the invention of EPHRAIM LATHAM, deceased, what isclaimed 9e as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

,l l. In a car coupling, a draw head havinga knuckle, a slide forcontrolling said knuckle,

a swinging lever for withdrawing said slide, and an ear on the outsideof the draw head, s'agid lever passing freely through a slot in saidslide, and slots in the sides of the draw head,

1 o the ear N on the draw head, and the side slots Q,

Q', in the Wall of the draw bar, said lever having both ends protrudingthrough said side slots outside of the draw bar, and having one endpivoted on said ear, the parts being cornbined substantially asdescribed.

JONATHAN F. LATHAM, Administrator of heestate of Ephraim Latha/m,deceased.

Witnesses:

BEN P. HUNT, JOSEPH MARTIN, Jr.

